Whatever Happened to Making an Honest Dollar?

It seems that integrity is in short supply these days. Whether it’s the economy giving businesses an excuse to bend the truth about their offerings, or simply the state of the world, it’s getting harder to find people who are honest in their dealings.

Consider a recent news article that reported expatriates reentering the UAE would need documentation proving they didn’t have the H1N1 virus. The story appeared on GulfNews.com, and quoted an anonymous source who appeared to have authority on the government’s position in the matter. As it turns out, the report was false, or at least taken out of context. As the Khaleej Times later reported, the Director-General of the UAE Health Ministry denied the report as “completely untrue.”

Whether or not the report was deliberately manufactured, the lack of integrity is still concerning. Reporters, and the publications they work for, have an obligation to ensure that what they report is accurate and true – especially in the case of an issue that can cause such public hysteria as swine flu.

When it comes to business, the line between honesty and marketability is a bit more blurry, although many people (myself included) expect organizations and their leadership to have integrity. Products and services should be represented truthfully. Company representatives should only make promises they can keep. Transparency, both internally and externally,
should be the organization’s goal.

Recalling another recent news article, this one purported that the CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, was investigating the feasibility of “standing room only” on short hop flights throughout Europe. Supposedly, passengers would be strapped to stools instead of seats, which would allow the airline to fit more ticket holders on the flight. Of course, the report was debunked, only this time the blame fell not on the reporter, but on O’Leary, who had apparently made the comments to generate free publicity. (I am dismayed to provide him with more here, but it does fit my point.)

Businesses founded on such trickery will not be able to sustain customer loyalty for the long-term. Granted, Ryanair is still making a profit during the recession, but much of that is due to deep price cutting. In fact, the airline prides itself on being a low cost carrier. O’Leary is digging his company a commodity hole and they will soon not be able to climb out – even with a huge PR shovel.

I could go on with more examples of business leaders and companies that have lost my trust. But I’d rather hear stories of companies that are maintaining their integrity. If you know of any, please leave a comment below.